Tag: must read

Book Review – An Autumn Crush by Millie Johnson

Published on by xomelloLeave a comment

www.audible.co.uk/pd

I love listening to stories that reflect the time of year we are currently in. This is the third one from this author I have listened to now. It was a nice heartwarming story about new love, old and new friendships and the funny way that life has of surprising us when we least expect it. This story touches on the topic of online dating and now uncertainty this can bring.

The great thing about this book is that there are little autumn quotes between the chapters and I do love a good quote! 🥰

Although I loved this book, I feel that it ended a little too abruptly for my liking but it was still a great story.

I rate this story 4 stars

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Happy autumn everyone 🍂

Milly Johnson – A summer Fling – Book Review

Published on by xomelloLeave a comment

I’m listening to A Summer Fling by Milly Johnson, narrated by Colleen Prendergast on my Audible app. Try Audible and get it here: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd?asin=1398507849&source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=rate_review

Happy reading!

Book Review – Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay by Jill Mansell

Published on by xomello1 Comment
I enjoyed this book enormously.  Given the weather being of the wet variety lately images of warm Cornish sunshine was a welcome distraction.
This is the first book I have read by Jill Mansell and I am really glad that I did. This story is based in St Carys, Cornwall.  Jill Mansell sets the scenes so perfectly in this book that it really makes you want to get in your car and see the beautiful, picturesque seaside town for yourself. This is very much a ‘boy meets girl’ story on multiple platforms and despite a number of detours to the longing that is the love story of ‘Meet me at Beachcomber Bay’ they all get ‘The One’ in the end.
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Clemency, the main character of this story is a very down to earth and likable estate agent  with a rather snobby step sister of the same age who goes by the name of Belle.  Despite their obvious differences they get on pretty well until Belle turns up with new guy who Clemency happens to have met 3 years earlier while on a return plane home.  During their plane journey, there was an obvious connection felt by Clemency and Sam, after which she slips him her business card hoping to keep in touch and take things to the next level.  Much to Clemency’s dismay Sam unable to offer her what she was hoping for and reveals that unfortunately he is married.  The two part ways thinking that they will never see each other again, until Sam turns up at a viewing for a new flat as Clem’s sisters fiancé.
The second unexpected romance comes from Clemency’s work mate, Ronan.   Ronan is a bit of a ladies man but the fact that he is gorgeous, tanned and very rarely found together, a nice guy means that the ladies of St Carys are powerless to resist his charm.  Recently single, Ronan find himself in bed with none other than the lady who delivers their mail to work and a client of Ronans, Kate.  Whilst laying in each others arms after what could only be described as a passionate, unplanned night they hear a knock at the door.  It is Ronan’s ex-girlfriend, who despite their best attempts to ignore her, takes it upon herself to recite very badly written poetry about the love she has for Ronan.  Once she realises that she was not getting a response from him, anger descends and she shouts at the front door that give him a week and he will have another tart in his bed.  This leads to Ronan confirming to Kate that he has only been single for about 24 hours which leaves Kate feeling discussed with herself as one night stands were definitely out of her character. Other than work interactions and other revelation happening in Ronan’s life, they don’t really get the chance to get close again until an unexpected arrival later on brings them back together.
Finally, the third romance involves Clemency’s upper class sister Belle.  Having arrived in St Carys with Sam she is completely unaware that he sister as Sam are already acquainted.  Nobody tells her otherwise and their introduction is carried out as if they had just met.  Belle boasts to Clemency about how perfect Sam is and how lucky she is to have found someone so wonderful that she can really spend the rest of her life with.  Belle, having pretty much invited herself to move to St Carys with Sam, quit her job in the city and sold her flat in preparation for the move to sunny Cornwall.  Once they have arrived and start moving into the flat that Clemency was tasked with finding for them Belle decides to take a walk to the town to get flowers and other such niceties to add a female touch to Sam’s humble abode.  Whilst out she literally bumps into a fitness junkie and the answer to her deepest desires.
This story is brimming with feel good vibes and is perfect for a pick me up!  What Jill Mansell has created here is so much more than just a Boy meets Girl predictable tale.  I was completely able to get totally lost in the world she has created and despite some of the trials and tribulations that these characters face it is still a very uplifting and warm style of writing.  Just thinking back about this book gives me a warm glow.  So if your feeling the January/February blues this one if definitely for you.
I gave this book 5/5 stars on Goodreads
five-stars

As always, I hope you have enjoyed my review and I look forward to your feedback.

xo-shop-logo

Book Review – Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

Published on by xomello1 Comment

I have just finished reading  ‘Fool Me Once’ by Harlen Coben.  This is the first book I have read by this author and I must admit it really exceeded my expectations.

The initial reason for chosing this book over any of the others that were calling to me from the shelves was the snippet on the back cover (see the bottom of this post).  I tend to choose a book the same way that I would choose a movie.  I like to read the blurb on the back to see if it is something that I think i could get into. My reasoning is that if I would like to watch it as a film then I would be able to get into it as a book.

There is nothing I hate more in the world than a book that you begin to read but you know in your heart that you are seeing the words but nothing is sinking in.  This book is the exact opposite.  I am not usually one for thrillers but this is one of those reads that you just can’t put down.

Breakdown

The book started by jumping straight into the action of the murder of Maya’s Husband, Joe.  Maya is ex-millitary and did not leave under honorable circumstances, but rest assured she is still a good guy.  The memories of her time in the airforce will forever haunt her.  She lays her husband to rest, which for any spouse I can only imagine is heartbreaking, but she does it with such class and composure.  Maya has always been around death as her profession would imply and with the recent murder of her sister, Claire, still fresh in her mind, she has had more than her fill over the last few months.

Her husband, Joe, was one of four siblings of the Burkett family who have also been touched by tragedy in the past when his younger brother, Andrew, died whilst partying on a yacht with friends.  The Burkett’s were a wealthy family so they did not want for anything, but where there is money there is sure to be scandal.  This comes in the form of a connection between the murder of Maya’s sister and her husband.  Maya takes it upon herself to investigate and get to the bottom of what has happened to connect these two deaths.

The more Maya digs to unearth the truth, the more secrets are revealed.  She must be careful who she can trust if she is to ever have any hope of finding out who killed her sister and how it can be linked to the death of her husband!

Overall Review

Great storyline, I loved the characters and their background stories.  Throughout this book I found myself guessing who the murderer could be.  I had an incline as to how it would end but there was always something that followed to dismiss that feeling and throw you right back off track.  I was hooked from beginning to end and would rate this book 9/10.

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xo Mello